Chapter 1 (1/2)

I took a deep breath in. It didn't take long to perceive and acknowledge the situation. The sun was still up and my heart was beating faster than ever. I sat on the chair in the middle of a messy room. Then, I picked up the remote and turned the TV on.

”Introducing, the group that became an instant hit with their first alb.u.m! The girl group who is as sweet as cotton candy, Sweet Honey!”

Moments later, 11 young girls appeared on the screen and started a cute dance.

Many people cheered them on, and I couldn't take my eyes off of them as well. However, I was cheering for a different reason. I remembered that girl group as well as the subsequent idol groups and singers that came on after them.

'It was March 2015.'

I confirmed the date again. My current self was still in a daze about traveling back in time.

In order to stir the future into the right direction, I need to be aware of my every action and choices. I made a note of this to myself.

'It's dangerous to leave any traces behind.'

Nothing was clear to me right now. If Mins.h.i.+k returned along with me, it was possible that another dangerous element may exist. This was why I needed to keep my thoughts to myself.

But first...March 2, 2015.

It's been 10 days since his parents pa.s.sed away.

I was 19-years old and a junior in high school. Back then, I wasn't particularly talented in anything, but I enjoyed playing soccer with my friends. After my parents pa.s.sed away in the car accident, I would be a homebody and a hermit holed in my house for quite some time.

'It's been two years since my name was registered into Mr. Yang's family.'

Mr. Yang only took me in because he was interested in was my insurance money.

But this situation lasted for only two years.

Two years later, the entire world would undergo a ma.s.sive apocalypse.

A rift that connected Earth to another dimension opened and the existence of otherworldly monsters was revealed to the world. Luckily, I awakened as a Magic Swordsman and started walking the path of a hero after being elected by the government.

'But, the door has already been opened.'

I didn't know back then. But I survived as the remaining hero of humanity; of course, I came to know all sorts of secrets in the world.

The rift was already open in 2015, just around this time period.

No one tried to deliberately cover it up, and the monsters that crossed over were too few in number to be discovered.

'This means…I have two years to prepare.'

Monster and awakened humans. Those that were coined the t.i.tle 'superhuman' would begin to awake in two years time. Additionally, although they were small in numbers, some awakened even now.

It was possible that they weren't aware their newfound powers. Even though they might have awakened, they could only grow stronger by hunting monsters. Recently awakened humans were just a bit stronger than ordinary people. On the other hand, although I awakened two years after the rift had opened, I was able to grow more quickly than others. The Magic Swordsman cla.s.s that I awakened as was the main reason for my growth.

But I am here two years before the beginning of the true apocalypse. This was a bouncing board for me to reach even higher boundaries than I achieved in the past.

'The Magic Swordsman cla.s.s was unique in that I could increase my magic abilities and swordsmans.h.i.+p at the same time. However, I couldn't reach the pinnacle of any skill as well.'

For a moment, I contemplated about the power I had in the past. Magic Swordsman. I was guaranteed growth at a fast pace since I was able to use two different powers. But as time pa.s.sed, I reached a bottleneck. Even though I remained as the last surviving hero, I couldn't reach my true potential.

I stroked my chin. Since I returned, I had to choose which path I would walk on.

'The rift is open already, and if I wanted to, I could acquire another hidden cla.s.s.'

The more overpopulated an area was, the more rifts would be opened. Of course, a rift was currently open in Korea this year, and I knew it was.

However, I didn't want to take any rash actions.

'Mins.h.i.+k. He came back too…'

Mins.h.i.+k was kind. It was in his nature to help those in need and would give candy to a kid who was crying. He was so innocent that he wouldn't watch any p.o.r.n. But, as soon as this world became chaotic, he became the middle manager of a newly rising cult named Aletheia. The newly rising cult, Aletheia!

They bred monsters and ma.s.sacred humans, turning them into the center of evil.

There was no excuse for his actions.

To be a part of a group like that meant his hands were covered in the blood of countless people. It also meant that he wasn't innocent anymore. But he still came looking for me. He ran towards me and gave me a hug.

Did he want to renew our old friends.h.i.+p?

'A new life, a new friends.h.i.+p.'

Before locating the temple, I tried to get rid of Aletheia several times. And when I met Mins.h.i.+k during my third attempt, he was pessimistic about himself because he was jealous of how powerful I had become.

He said he would turn back time and become a hero. A hero, a better hero than me!

He was crying like a kid and I couldn't it in myself to kill him. Seeing Mins.h.i.+k wet his pants and stuttering away from me, I couldn't strike the fatal blow to his heart.

'Let's think calmly.'

I wasn't overconfident nor was did I underestimate myself. If Mins.h.i.+k found out that I returned with him, he could turn his blade towards me making it the worst case scenario.

The memories in my head were top secret. The only one that could handle them was me.

He said that he would become a hero, but he had already deeply a.s.sociated himself with evil.

'What if Mins.h.i.+k wasn't the only one that returned?'

This was my biggest worry.

What if the other followers returned to the past through Chronos's power?

I would become their main enemy as I tried to wipe them out multiple times in the past. Since I attacked their temple, I would be the first on their list to eliminate.

Thus, there was a need to carefully a.n.a.lyze my current situation. There could be a connection between Mins.h.i.+k and Aletheia. I needed to get rid of the idea that Mins.h.i.+k and I were the only ones that returned.

Someone could be watching my every move right now. I'll have to think about every possible outcome, including worst case scenarios, before taking any action.

'I guess I need to act for the time being.'